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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. degree — from a university
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. cap — a hat
  6. pit — in a race
  7. degree — temperature
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. pit — a hole
  10. firm — steady
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. firm — a company
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. cap — a lid
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — a stone
  18. degree — an amount
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. cap — of ice
  24. firm — decided

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com